WEYMOUTH boss Andy Mason was today rewarded for his side’s superb March run by being named the Dr Martens League Premier Division manager-of-the-month.
The popular player-manager deservedly scooped the award after an impressive six match unbeaten league spell saw the in-form Terras chalk up wins against Crawley, Moor Green, Halesowen, Fisher Athletic and Worcester City, while the only blot on an otherwise impressive copy-book was a stalemate at Newport County.
But modest Mason was quick to play down the accolade instead preferring to praise his players, whose efforts have seen them move up to fourth in the current standings.
He said: “I’m obviously delighted for the recognition but all the credit should really go to the players. Although Fred (Davies) and myself pick the side, it’s the lads who do all the hard work on the pitch and they’ve done brilliantly to get us where we are at the moment.”
And Mason will no doubt be hoping the dreaded manager of the month curse stays away from the Wessex Stadium tonight when his side take on Salisbury City, kick-off 7.45pm.
The high-flying Terras certainly won’t need motivating for the local derby against former favourite Taffy Richardson’s mid-table outfit as they know a win over their Wiltshire rivals will move them up to third spot.
However Mason is taking nothing for granted and is calling for ‘more of the same’ after that thumping win against Worcester.
He said: “Going third if we win is obviously a big incentive for us but we’re going to have to be right at the top of our game to do so because local derbies are never easy.
“Salisbury are a difficult side to beat, as their recent draw at Margate proved, but we owe them one after our shocking display up there at the start of the season.”
But if we go out there with the same attitude, commitment and belief that we’ve showed in recent weeks then I’m sure we’ll be okay.”
Striker Lee Phillips could return to the starting line-up after missing out on Saturday through a twisted knee although Mason is once again playing his starting eleven cards close to his chest.
He added: “We rested Lee as a precaution on Saturday but we’re hoping he’s going to be alright. Fred and myself may opt to change the side around again in order to keep everybody fresh and on their toes but that’s something we’ll decide closer to kick-off.”
And while it’s been the goal-getters who have been singled out recently, the player-manager today heaped praise on his rearguard who go into the clash defending an impressive record of having gone over six hours without conceding.
He added: “We’ve had four clean-sheets on the spin which is a clear sign of how hard everybody, not just the defence, is working when we’re not in possession.
The lads at the back have done really well in the last few games and have given us a solid platform to build on.”
WHITCHURCH 0
WEYMOUTH RESERVES 3
THE young Terras came good in the second-half to sweep aside Whitchurch on a quagmire pitch in their Jewson Wessex Combination game in Hampshire last night.
After what manager Micky Beauchamp described as “a really awful first half” the Terras responded to the changes which saw teenagers Dan Evans and Simon Critchell introduced to the fray.
They went ahead when the impressive Michael Walker won the ball in a challenge outside the area and ran through to lob the goalkeeper. Five minutes later good build-up down the marginally less muddy flank ended with a cross from Mike Wisden which Bobby Darch hammered in from 18 yards.
Critchell capped a fine display when he blasted home the third from 20 yards to set the Terras up nicely for tomorrow night’s home game against Christchurch, their rivals for the runners-up spot.
